Bank of Canada Held Their Rate

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Cecile Guilbault Group

Bank of Canada Held Their Rate

As you know, your variable rate mortgage, line of credit and/or student loans are all based on the Prime Rate and here is your personal update from me on the recent Bank of Canada announcement on changes to their Overnight Rate which in most cases impacts your Prime Rate.

At 10:00 am EST, Wednesday December 6, 2017, the Bank of Canada maintained their overnight rate which means no change to your interest rate. I know you may be feeling the impact of the rate changes earlier in 2017, but you can feel at ease that your rate will stay the same for now.

As we discussed previously this year, there have been several changes to the mortgage regulations this fall, which affect your purchasing power and flexibility in your mortgage product. These changes will impact your plans for borrowing funds in the future – whether it is refinancing to maximize the low interest rates and equity in your home, purchasing rental properties or moving up into a bigger home? You can of course always opt to stay with your current mortgage product and just renew, however this gives your lender the upper hand and doesn’t allow you the ability to shop around! Ultimately this new guideline will negatively affect your ability to access the equity in your home! Equity that you have built up, by paying down your mortgage and consistently making your payments. If you have goals of accessing this cash, then please reach out to me now!

Call me now for a complimentary consultation to review your current financial situation and let’s start planning for your future now. These legislation changes don’t come into effect until January 1, 2018, so let’s get started on a plan RIGHT NOW!

To continue with the Bank of Canada news, here is an excerpt of the announcement and what they had to say about their decision today:

“Recent Canadian data are in line with October’s outlook, which was for growth to moderate while remaining above potential in the second half of 2017. Employment growth has been very strong and wages have shown some improvement, supporting robust consumer spending in the third quarter. Business investment continued to contribute to growth after a strong first half, and public infrastructure spending is becoming more evident in the data. Following exceptionally strong growth earlier in 2017, exports declined by more than was expected in the third quarter. However, the latest trade data support the MPR projection that export growth will resume as foreign demand strengthens. Housing has continued to moderate, as expected.

Inflation has been slightly higher than anticipated and will continue to be boosted in the short term by temporary factors, particularly gasoline prices. Measures of core inflation have edged up in recent months, reflecting the continued absorption of economic slack. Revisions to past quarterly national accounts have resulted in a higher level of GDP. However, this is unlikely to have significant implications for the output gap because the revisions also imply a higher level of potential output. Meanwhile, despite rising employment and participation rates, other indicators point to ongoing¬ – albeit diminishing – slack in the labour market.”

Based on this outlook, the Bank estimates that the economy’s growth is still moderate and they want to operate with a conservative approach to monetary policy. They do indicate that higher interest rates will be required over time, but they want to remain cautious in their approach when increase rates.

Fixed rates haven’t really changed at all since the last announcement, and are around 3.09% to 3.39% for a five-year fixed term.

Currently variable rate products are still lower than current fixed term rates, however if concern regarding impending rate increases is going to affect your monthly budget, locking in now might be a good option. Call me to book a complimentary consultation and let’s discuss your current financial situation. I’ll be in touch again for the next announcement on January 17, 2018.

I wonder if I can ask a favour; this time of year can be really tough for many that are not as financially fortunate as us. No matter their situation; whether it is mountains of debt that they can’t get a handle on, low income or even unemployed… I can help. If you hear a colleague, friend or family member talk about going through a financially tough time would you mind letting them know I might be able to help. I can assist home owners by helping them access their equity to get them back on their financial feet and relieve some stress. My expertise will help with budgeting, credit counselling or debt consolidation. If you would be so kind as to pass along my contact information on to anyone who might need a helping hand – I’ll provide a pro bono consultation to provide some great options on how I can help!

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